Improved machine for rolling carriage-axles



' T". H. MILLER.

MACHINE FOR ROLLING CARRIAGE AXLES.

No. 33,155. Patented 'Aug. 27, 1861,

UNITED STATES TOBIAS H. MILLER, 0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR ROLLING CARRlAGE-AXLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,155, dated August 27, 18 61 To all whom it may concern:

be itknown' that I, TOBIAS I-I. MILLER, of the city of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved tongs to be used in connection with a suitable-machine for:

manufacturing wrought-iron axles for carriages and other vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, Inakinga part of this specification- Figure 1 being a perspective view of the machine in which the axles are rolled or formed; Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a view of the central core, detached, to

which are secured the rollers; Fig. 4, a view of one of the rollers detached;-Fig. 5, a view of my improved tongs as applied to the machine; Fig. 6, aview of a finished axle;

' 1 Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The usual form of an iron axle is as represented in Fig. 6. It consists of a tapering portion 0, on which the hub of the wheel turns, a collar N, against which the inner end of the hub rests, and a square or. rectangular shankM, which sustains the body of the vehicle. The usual manner of making these axles is by forging, the collar N being a separate piece welded or suitably secured in place.

In forming the axles I employ a suitable machine instead'of forging and make all the parts from single pieces of iron. This machine consists of two sets of rollers O and D,

Fig. 1, one-situated above the other in ahorizontal position and sustained in a suitable frame. These sets of rollers are situated so that their peripheries come in contact, and they are geared together by gear-wheels A and B, secured, respectively, to their shafts outside the-frame, as represented. 1 usually construct these rollers so as to be removable from their shafts or cores in order that different sizes may be employed to roll differentsized axles, in which case the construction of the core and the rollers that are' secured thereto is substantially as represented in Figs. 3 and 4.. 'lhe'eore is made with a longitudinal groove or channel F and bearingsurfaces E and D, nearly or quite right-angled to each other, to which parts respect ively fit corresponding parts F, E, and I) of the rollers, as shown. When. the rollers and core are thus united,'they are secured together by screws 8' s, fitting in holes ss; but if itis desired to' make axles of a single and uniform size only each set of rollers may be formed in a single piece and suitably chilled.

The peripheries of each COY'IGSIJOIldlBQ' pair of rollers of the sets 0 D are provided'with suitable grooves 1 2 ,3 4'5, Fig. 2-, which grooves are of the proper extent, size, and shape to form those'portions of the axle for which th ey are respectively designed, whether tapering or square. In the drawings the grooves 1, 2, and 3 are represented as semicirculan in cross-section, gradually tapering or grow-' ing of less diameter as they extend around; so as to give the proper form to the tapering or conical portion, of the axle. The grooves 4 and 5 are represent-ed as square in crosssection for the purpose of forming the square shank of the axle. The grooves are graduated in size, so as to accomplish by successive rolling-the proper size of the axle. I

To the frame of the machine, at the proper distance in front of the rollers, is secured a horizontal gage-rod I, the use of which, in connection with the tongs, will be hereinafter explained.

My invention principally consists in using, in connection with the machine above de scribed, a pair of tongs for holding the heated iron that forms the axle, so constructed that all the parts of the axle are .formed from a single piece without removing the iron from the tongs, (the ends of the iron being merely reversed therein,) and the iron is so gaged that it shall always enter the proper distance between the rollers.

The tongs, Fig. 5, are formed of two levers pivoted together as usual, but having the jaws L L of greater length than in ordinary use. The extremities of' these jaws on their inner side are respectively provided with swivel clutches or holds K K,'of proper shape for suitably seizing and holding the iron that is submitted to the action of the rollers. These swivel-clutches turn freely on swivel joints or pivots that pass through them and the ends of the jaws L L. At suchadistance in the rear of the swivel-clutches as col-re spon'ds with the length of that port-ion ofthe tongs.

axle-iron forming the sqmare shank M before it is rolled or drawn out are -made shoulders Zak in the jaws L L, as represented, and in the rear of these shoulders, between the jaws when closed on the iron, is situated a tapergage-check i, forming a projecting shoulder,

as represented. The portion of this gage check on the tongs is arranged with reference to the distance of the gage-rod I from the rollers, as these two parts act together.

The iron to. be rolled into axles is usually of cylindrical shape; and is cut'of the proper length to form all the parts of the axle, as represented at Q, Fig. 5. When it is properly heated to be rolled, it is inserted betweenthe swivel-clutches of the jaws, the rear end thereof resting against the shoulders k is, while'the forward end projects beyond the Thus arranged the swivel-clutches hold exactly on that'po-rtion of theiron forming the collar N. When thus h eld the projecting portion of the iron'in' front of the swivel-clutches is of just the right length to form the tapering part of the axle, andthe portion in the rear ofthe clutches within the jaws is of just the length. to form .the square shank of the axle. Thus secured in the tongs, the projecting portion of the unrolled axle iron is inserted in one of the grooves 1 2 3 between the rollers till the check 2' strikes the gagerea I, which action enters the iron up to the swivelclutches. The rollers O D are then actuated-in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, thereby rolling the iron out and forming the tapering portionO. By successive rolling it is readily reduced to the desired size. As soon as the tapering or conical portion of the axle is properly'formed the tongs and iron are'entirely withdrawn from the rollers, and (without releasing the-rear end of the tongs-from the link) by placing the end of the rolled taper against any object and pressing sidewise of the tongs the swivelclutches turn on their joints, the tapering end of the axle is turned into the space Z between the jaws, and the iron is reversed, thereby bringing the shank portion forward ready to be rolled or formed. This end of the iron is formed in the squaregrooves 4:

and 5 in the same manner as above-described.

Thus by my improved arrangement not only is the iron gaged to enter a certain depth between the rollers by means of the check i and gage-rod I, but itfis also gaged in the jaws of the tongs, so that each portion is rolled or formed without removing the iron from the tongs by the use of the swivel-clutches and the shoulders 70 k. j The advantage of such an arrangement in the economy of time'and labor is apparent, as the great trouble of removing the iron from the tongs and replacing it in a different position is avoided. By such celerity of action, also,'there is less loss of the necessary heat of the iron in working.

I do not claim gaging the depth that the iron enters the rollers by a gage-rod and check, as I am aware that such a device has before been known; but

r What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

The tongs herein described, provided with the swivel-clutches K K', shoulders 70 In, space I l, and check 2', for the purpose of holding, turning, and gaging the iron in the process of rolling without removing it from the tongs, I

when the same-is used in connection with the gage-rod I and grooved rollers O D of the ina- CHAS. R. FRAILEY, J AOOB STAUFFER. 

